Presentation of Mary, November 21
An ancient text, the Protoevangelium of James, tells how Anne and Joachim brought the young Mary to the Temple in Jerusalem to dedicate her to God. The feast began in the East in the sixth century. It is also a day of prayer for cloistered nuns.
On the General Roman Calendar, November 21 is a memorial: The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
November 21 on the calendar
November 21 is the 325th day of the year (the 326th in a leap year), with 40 days left until December 31. Here is the day of the week it falls on in the coming years:
| Year | Day |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Saturday |
| 2027 | Sunday |
| 2028 | Tuesday |
| 2029 | Wednesday |
| 2030 | Thursday |
Keeping November 21
November 21 falls in November, the month the Church dedicates to praying for the dead. As a memorial, the saint is named in the opening prayer of every Mass celebrated that day. Families who keep name days often mark the day with a card, a candle or a favorite meal, and parishes named after the saint may hold a festival.
Saints of the week around November 21
| Date | Saint or feast |
|---|---|
| November 18 | St. Rose Philippine Duchesne |
| November 19 | St. Mechtilde |
| November 20 | St. Edmund the Martyr |
| November 22 | St. Cecilia |
| November 23 | St. Clement I |
| November 24 | St. Andrew Dung-Lac and Companions |
The day before, November 20, is the day of St. Edmund the Martyr. The day after, November 22, belongs to St. Cecilia. Looking for a name? Try the name day calendar or go back to today’s saint.